3.05 RIBBLESDALE STAKES HIBAAYEB returned to the scene of her Group
1 Fillies' Mile victory last autumn for a runaway win in the
Ribblesdale Stakes - earning a crack at the Irish Oaks in the process.

Switched from Clive Brittan to Saeed bin Suroor during the winter,
the daughter of Singspiel beat just one home in the 1,000 Guineas before
a more respectable third at the top level in France three weeks later.

But a first attempt at a mile and a half showed Frankie
Dettori's mount (below) in a different light as she beat Eldalil by
three and threequarter lengths and give Godolphin a fifth success in the
fillies' Group 2. "The distance was the difference," said
the Italian. "She won the Fillies' Mile here so we knew she
liked the track and the stiff mile and a half is w h a t s h e
wanted." Bin Suroor added: "The Irish Oaks is a target now -
she has class and, when Frankie asked her, she finished the race very
well."

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